former believers
Devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2426
John 8:30-32
Joh 8:30 While he was saying these things, many believed in him.
Joh 8:31 That was why Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you stay in my word, you are truly my disciples.
Joh 8:32 You will know the truth, and the truth will liberate you.”
There are two groups mentioned here: the many who were starting to believe in Jesus, and “the Jews who had believed him.” There are a lot of “former believers” today as well. These are people who might have had an experience at some time, and professed Christ, but now no longer walk according to that profession. Jesus speaks into the lives of such people, just as he did the Jews who had stopped believing in him. He invites all such former believers to get into his word, and stay in his word. Knowing the truth can liberate. But ignoring the truth only perpetuates the slavery.
LORD, make us competent disciples of your truth, and agents for the liberation of others.
things that are right by him
Devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2425
John 8:25-29
Joh 8:25 This is why they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus told them “That one I’ve been telling you about from the very beginning.”
Joh 8:26 “I have many things to say and to decide about you, but my sender is true, and what I have heard from him– these things I am saying to the world.”
Joh 8:27 They did not know he was speaking to them about the Father.
Joh 8:28 That was why Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I am doing nothing on my own. But I say these things just as the Father taught me.
Joh 8:29 My sender is with me. He has not left me alone, because I am always doing things that are right by him.”
When I tried an internet search for ἀρεστός, it sent me in the wrong direction, because the word has taken on a different meaning in modern Greek. From its New Testament usage, it seems to have had the connotation of something that is proper and virtuous, of excellent moral character. That is what Jesus is talking about. He describes his activities as “things that are right by” his sender. That is what we all should be striving to do.
LORD, give us the moral courage to do things that are right by you.
Jesus’ escape
Devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2424
John 8:19-24
Joh 8:19 That was why they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered “You know neither me nor my Father, if you knew me, you would also know my Father.”
Joh 8:20 He spoke these words by the treasure room, while teaching in the temple. But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
Joh 8:21 That was why he said to them again, “I’m going away; you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I’m going, you do not have the power to come.”
Joh 8:22 So the Jews said again, “He won’t kill himself, will he, since he says, ‘Where I’m going, you do not have the power to come’?”
Joh 8:23 He also told them “You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”
Joh 8:24 That was why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”
Already the Jewish mob had made plans to have Jesus killed. They were just waiting for the right time to arrest him — what John calls his hour. But then Jesus starts talking about an apparent escape. He says that he is going away, and the crowd will look for him, and not find him. They surmise that he must be planning to kill himself, because they are watching him closely, and cannot imagine him escaping from theirb plans.
But Jesus is not talking about escaping the cross. He’s looking beyond the cross, beyond his death. He is planning to return to his Father, because he knows that he came from above, not this world. His escape is a return to his former glory, and his pursuers do not have the power (δύναμαι) to follow him there.
Jesus made good his escape, not in death, but by resurrection and ascension. He is coming back to be our rightful king on this earth. But he chooses to give permanent life only to those who believe that he is who he says he is. All others will die in their sins.
LORD, we choose to believe in Jesus. Help us to reach as many as possible with the gospel truth about him.
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